What size is my kid? Rough size chart equivalents for sewists

What size is my child? A guide for sewists.

A while ago I made a comparison chart of sizing systems for women. But I thought it would also be useful to do the same thing for children’s sizes.

This is a rough guide to how children’s clothing sizes and sewing pattern sizes match up across the most commonly used clothing systems. Please click to enlarge. For more details, please read the notes below.

How This Chart Was Built

Where does this information come from?

I used the combined available size charts from major pattern manufacturers, clothing manufacturers and international size standards. The ‘Big Four’ pattern companies refer to companies like Butterick, McCalls, Vogue and Simplicity. The European Pattern companies include ones like Ottobre and Burdastyle, but also a number of pattern companies in France, Germany, etc. I didn’t include independent pattern company size charts, which vary a great deal, especially in the U.S.

Should I choose my pattern size based on this chart?

Probably not. It’s always a good idea to read the measurements that come with a specific pattern for a better fit.

Why are some sizes greyed out?

The greyed out sizes are purely fictitious. They don’t exist on the size charts of certain manufacturers.

What’s going on with sizes S,M and L?

Those sizes are very approximate, and vary greatly among clothing manufacturers. In addition there is a range of S-L for babies and another for older children.

Do you have suggestions? complaints?

I hope you find the chart useful. If you have any comments or would like to suggest improvements, I’d love to hear about it! Please leave your thoughts in the comments.